For Those Who Use Lighted Facades

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ahoustondj

ahoustondj

DJ Extraordinaire
Aug 13, 2007
20,235
3,464
Texas
I was looking at a pair of Color Organs that I have and began wondering how cool it would be to make my own Light Display to use for a Lighted facade. A Color Organ of sorts is already being used in Sound activated fixtures but how about making your own light configurations! You can use lights such as Rope Lights, regular bulbs (Chandelier) to create your own designs. Just plug them into this http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=320-210 and you can make your own adjustments to frequency etc. Just a thought....thinking outside the box.
Years ago, whenever I went to a venue to do a Christmas Party, if they had a Lighted Christmas tree, I would plug it in to my Light Organ and it was fun to see the tree blink in time to the music. You actually have to send a signal from your mixer/source to the light organ, that is the way it is activated. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_organ
 
Years ago, I had a facade that I built myself that was a color organ.

It had a plywood back, then crinkled foil, then 3 runs of X-mas lights, and frosted plexiglass front.

It was bulky, heavy, and frankly, cheesy.


I now use a single piece of plywood covered in speaker carpet. Simple and not nearly as heavy.
 
Dave Miller said:
Years ago, I had a facade that I built myself that was a color organ.

It had a plywood back, then crinkled foil, then 3 runs of X-mas lights, and frosted plexiglass front.

It was bulky, heavy, and frankly, cheesy.


I now use a single piece of plywood covered in speaker carpet. Simple and not nearly as heavy.
Click to expand...
Yep I agree, the crinkled foil is cheesy. Where in the world did you ever get that idea? LOL
 
I'd love to find a EQ/Spectrum Analyzer light effect
(that is NOT outrageously priced)
 
I have a Sharp PG-D2870W short throw projector I bought new last year ridiculously cheap (~$400). It throws a 40+ inch image from 30 inches away. It's plenty bright (2000 lumens) to use in rear projection. I'm thinking of fabricating a shelf under my table to hold it and making a facade with a frosted or opaque plastic or maybe some stiff material center section (I have to experiment with different types to see what works best from a rear projection standpoint. The image is flippable, so I can have any image on my laptop up there.

I'm thinking either some text effects showing event info or couples names or maybe some color organ type stuff that will make some neat patterns. I hope to get a chance to try some materials in the next month or 2 so I can make up some frames. I'd love to hear if anyone has used any good video or effect software. I'm hoping this accomplishes something similar to what Canute is looking for at a lower weight point.



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steve149 said:
I have a Sharp PG-D2870W short throw projector I bought new last year ridiculously cheap (~$400). It throws a 40+ inch image from 30 inches away. It's plenty bright (2000 lumens) to use in rear projection. I'm thinking of fabricating a shelf under my table to hold it and making a facade with a frosted or opaque plastic or maybe some stiff material center section (I have to experiment with different types to see what works best from a rear projection standpoint. The image is flippable, so I can have any image on my laptop up there.

I'm thinking either some text effects showing event info or couples names or maybe some color organ type stuff that will make some neat patterns. I hope to get a chance to try some materials in the next month or 2 so I can make up some frames. I'd love to hear if anyone has used any good video or effect software. I'm hoping this accomplishes something similar to what Canute is looking for at a lower weight point.



View attachment 25359
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Most of the Clubs and Bars where I play already have projectors and large 10' drop down screens so I just patch into it. I run everything from Powerpoint presentations to short funny videos througoht the night. You can even do advertising for the Club/Venue on the PP Presentation. If the venue does not have one such as a Hotel, I will encourage the Client to rent one and then I patch in to it. That is one less thing i have to lug around and assemble/disassemble.

I run extended desktop to that screen or sometimes clone it so the audience can see my DJ software at work. This looks awesome on a 10' screen.
 
ahoustondj said:
Most of the Clubs and Bars where I play already have projectors and large 10' drop down screens so I just patch into it. I run everything from Powerpoint presentations to short funny videos througoht the night. You can even do advertising for the Club/Venue on the PP Presentation. If the venue does not have one such as a Hotel, I will encourage the Client to rent one and then I patch in to it. That is one less thing i have to lug around and assemble/disassemble.

I run extended desktop to that screen or sometimes clone it so the audience can see my DJ software at work. This looks awesome on a 10' screen.
Click to expand...

I don't do much in clubs, so I don't normally have a projector in place. I do bring this on occasion, but after seeing some pictures of a DJ Facade that had a large (32-40") plasma monitor up front, I thought maybe this would work as well. It give me the option to use it separately (large screen) as you do or to light the facade front. I hope to let you know in the future if it's worth it or not as soon as I get a chance to test some different projection materials that would both look nice in front and display a decent image from the short distance.

With led projectors getting progressively brighter every iteration, that may ultimately be the way to go ..
 
steve149 said:
I don't do much in clubs, so I don't normally have a projector in place. I do bring this on occasion, but after seeing some pictures of a DJ Facade that had a large (32-40") plasma monitor up front, I thought maybe this would work as well. It give me the option to use it separately (large screen) as you do or to light the facade front. I hope to let you know in the future if it's worth it or not as soon as I get a chance to test some different projection materials that would both look nice in front and display a decent image from the short distance.

With led projectors getting progressively brighter every iteration, that may ultimately be the way to go ..
Click to expand...
Why not just get a 42" flat screen TV and use it in the front of your Facade (Not Lighted) or table? A simple cable connection to your Laptop and voila you are ready to go.
 
Too heavy and fragile to move around .. plus the facade would have to be beefed up substantially and anchored well to hold 40+ pounds on it.
 
steve149 said:
Too heavy and fragile to move around .. plus the facade would have to be beefed up substantially and anchored well to hold 40+ pounds on it.
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Free standing on a pedestal would work. Whenever I take out my Flat Screen I use an artists portfolio leather case or a large suitcase style hard shell portfolio case to transport it.
 
That works ok for a small monitor, but I was hoping to get 30" - 40" on the facade (which I can do with the short-throw projector). A monitor or TV that large won't pack as easily in a portfolio case.
 
steve149 said:
That works ok for a small monitor, but I was hoping to get 30" - 40" on the facade (which I can do with the short-throw projector). A monitor or TV that large won't pack as easily in a portfolio case.
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You have to know where to buy the case my friend. I am also in the Art Business so that it where I got the idea and it is working out well for me. You can always make one out of Plywood and line it with foam. Two hinges, four metal or rubber feet and a handle will be all the hardware you will need. Actually it will be cheaper than the Portfolio Case. Again, just a suggestion.
 
for a club or other function which doesnt have a main focal point such as Bride and Groom I might consider something like this but really would you want a banner on your facade so to speak via projection when your not going to be directly in front of a head table? YOu might as well run your moving heads during cocktail and dinner.
 
Jon Tuck said:
for a club or other function which doesnt have a main focal point such as Bride and Groom I might consider something like this but really would you want a banner on your facade so to speak via projection when your not going to be directly in front of a head table? YOu might as well run your moving heads during cocktail and dinner.
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Jon, an idea like that can be used in a Wedding if what is being shown features the Bride and Groom. A Slide Show, Powerpoint Presentation, showing photos of the Happy Couple before they were married would be nice. Customized Gobos on the Screen would also be nice, as you won't be limited to just one Gobo. Pictures of their Honeymoon Destination would be an added plus.

Stuff like that would not take away from the B & G, instead it would help to emphasize them. Just my two cents.
 
Yes at the appropriate time but not when the Bride want all eyes on them. They are the spectacle.
 
No disagreement .. it would all need to be planned out. With the discussion on fancy spectrum analyzer displays and such, I figured that a projected from the rear facade would at least give me the "option" of flashy video during dancing, special shoutouts, bridge/groom info, etc. It was and is just a thought that I need to mock up to see if it will give me what I want.
 
badblood70 said:
I second that!
Click to expand...

Ausumm said:
I'd love to find a EQ/Spectrum Analyzer light effect
(that is NOT outrageously priced)
Click to expand...

You can use one of these as a loop on a flat screen or rear projection.

[video=youtube;QHUiXoAG2Wo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHUiXoAG2Wo&feature=related[/video]

Or Build One Of These:

[video=youtube;LIOUXr9v2RI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIOUXr9v2RI&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;6SnObVaOjDk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SnObVaOjDk&feature=related[/video]
 
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